Simple Man (Album Version)

"Simple Man" is a song by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from the album Lynyrd Skynyrd. The song ranks among the best-known Skynyrd songs. It was a trademark classic done by the band, which is known for soothing country ballads and steady guitar solos. The song was composed by lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Gary Rossington. It is one of a few songs by the band recorded down a half-step, with all instruments tuned to Eb instead of E.

Shortly after Ronnie Van Zant's grandmother died, he and Gary Rossington got together in Van Zant's apartment and started telling stories about her. Rossington came up with a chord progression, and Van Zant wrote the lyrics based on advice the women in their lives had given them over the years. They wrote it in about an hour. The theme of the song is based on a mother sharing wisdom on the facts of life and growing up with her son. Although the lyrics proclaim this was spoken to her "only son," that wasn't the case. Van Zant had two younger brothers, a sister that his father had with another woman from his first marriage, and two younger sisters.

In 2004, Jacksonville hard rock band Shinedown recorded an acoustic cover of "Simple Man" on their re-released debut album Leave a Whisper. The track went to #5 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and skyrocketed the band to popularity.